FOCUS: Growth strategies needed to realize pay hikes pledged by LDP hopefuls

Wage hikes to help tackle rising prices have become a key topic in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership contest, though economists say none of the candidates have presented detailed, feasible solutions.Three of the five contenders in Saturday's race have pledged to raise wages, while the two others have vowed to reduce financial burdens such as taxes to increase disposable income.Among the candidates prioritizing pay hikes, farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi, one of the front-runners in media polls, has vowed to increase average wages by 1 million yen ($6,900) by fiscal 2030.With th…READ FULL ARTICLE